Self-wringing mop



May 22, 1956 w. E. PARKER 2,746,070

SELF-WRINGING MOP Filed May 3, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Wuunn E. PHRKER May 22, 1956 w. E. PARKER SELF-WRINGING MOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1951 III! INVENTOR. WILLIHM E. PHRKER United States Patent SELF-WRINGING MOP William E. Parker, Warren, Ohio, assignor to Parker Manufacturing Company, Warren, Ohio, a corporation of Nevada Application May 3, 1951, Serial No. 224,391

4 Claims. (Ci. 15-119) My invention relates to mops, more particularly to self-wringing mops, and the principal object of my invention is to provide new and improved constructions of this character.

.A mop made in accordance with my invention is of simple and economical construction, and yet provides for eificient wringing action with a minimum of effort. Through use of my invention, wringing may be effected by manual action at a place spaced from the mopping material and accordingly the users hands may be maintained free of contact with the soiled water which is wrung from the mop. My invention also provides for wringing action with the mop head disposed Within or immediately over a container, such as a wash bucket, so that the soiled water may be wrung from the mop and delivered directly into the bucket Without splashing onto the floor or other surface.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application, there are shown, for purposes of illustration, various embodiments which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

Figure 1 is a broken perspective view of a mop illustrating an embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating parts of my invention in greater detail,

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, certain parts being shown in another position by means of dot-dash lines,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of my invention, showing parts in one position,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but with parts in another position, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a compressible sponge block which may be used in the embodiments hereinbefore mentioned.

My invention comprises a head carrying mopping material and having portions movable toward each other to compress such material therebetween and also comprising actuator means, preferably rotatable, to effect compressing action of the head portions.

With reference to Figures 1 through 3 of the drawings, the embodiment therein shown comprises a head 10 including a pair ,of relatively rigid elongated plates 11, 12 which are preferably formed of metal. The plates are joined together, as shown at 13, in the manner of a piano hinge, so that the plates may be generally folded together in the manner of hinge parts.

The head 10 carries mopping material which is adapted to be compressed between the plates to efiect wringing action of the material. As herein shown, the mopping material is preferably in the form of a compressible sponge block 14 which may be of any suitable commercially available cellulose sponge. The sponge block 14 is removably secured to the head in position to underlie the plates 11, 12.

As best seen in Figure 6, the sponge block is oblong formed by the hinge 13.

and of uniform thickness, although it will be appreciated that the block may be tapered in thickness to provide a thicker portion at the leading side of the block and a thinner portion at the trailing side. The block is preferably formed with a longitudinally extending groove 15 in its upper surface to receive the longitudinal protuberance This construction prevents bunching-up of the sponge and thus insures that the sponge will not interfere with compressing action of the plates 11, 12.

A pair of rigid slats 16 (preferably of metal) are secured, as by suitable cement, to the upper surface of the sponge block 14 and on opposite sides of the groove 15. The slats support screw-studs 17 which are adapted to pass through apertures in the plates 11, 12. Nuts 18 are threaded on the terminal portion of the studs 17 and provide means for releasably connecting the sponge block 14 to the head 10.

The mop is provided with handle means 118 for manual manipulation. The handle means comprises a handle 19 which is formed with a longitudinal aperture 20 extending therethrough. A sleeve 21 is secured to the lower end of the handle, by pinning, force fit or otherwise, so that the sleeve 21 is held against movement with respect to the handle.

Secured to and extending downwardly from the sleeve 21 is a skirt section 22, the lower end of which is split to form a plurality of feet 23 (here shown as three in number) which are bent outwardly and secured to the upper surface of the plate 11 in any suitable manner, such as by spot welding. This method of attachment rigidly secures the handle means 118 to the head 10, and as best seen in Figure 3, the handle means is preferably secured at an angle to the head for ease of manipulation of the mop.

Extending through the aperture 29 in the handle 19 is a rod 24, preferably of metal, which extends outwardly of the top end of the handle and is formed to provide a hand hold 25. A screw 26 is rigidly secured to the lower end of the rod 24 in any suitable manner, such as by means of a pin or the like. The lower extremity of the rod 24 is journalled in the arm of a bracket 27 which is spot welded or otherwise secured to the skirt section 22.

The screw 26 is formed with a relatively steep-pitch thread, and a nut 28 is cooperable with the screw. Diametrically opposed pins 29 extend laterally from the nut 28, and links 30 each have one end pivotally connected to respective pins. The other ends of the links 30 are pivotally connected to legs of a bracket 31 which is secured .to and extends upwardly from the upper surface of the plate 12. A slot 32 is formed in the skirt section 22 for slidably receiving a pin 33 carried by the nut 28 for the purpose of preventing rotation of the nut.

In operation, and when it is desired to compress the sponge to expel dirty water therefrom, a user grasps the handle 19 with one hand and with the other hand applies a turning force on the hand ,hold 25. Such turning force will be transmitted through the rod 24 to the screw 26 to effect rotation thereof. Proper rotation of the screw will cause axial movement of the nut 28 in a downward direction and the links 30 will exert a thrust on the plate 12 to cause the latter to swing to generally folded position with respect to the plate 11 and thus compress the sponge block between the plates, as shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 3.

Release of turning force on the hand hold will cause the parts to assume mopping relation, as shown in full lines in Figure 3, and such return will largely be automatic by reason of the resiliency of the sponge block. In the event the plate 12 does not fully return to mopping position, any pressure on this plate caused by mopping action will immediately return the plate to the full line position of Figure 3.

Since the users hands are removed from the vicinity of the sponge block, the wringing action may be performed without soiling the hands. Further, because only rotative force is needed to effect wringing action, the sponge carrying portion of the mop may be disposed within or directly above a bucket during wringing action so as to insure that all soiled water will be delivered to the bucket. My invention provides a mop that is devoid of pivoted presser plates and is therefore compact enough so that most normally inaccessible places may be reached.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the embodiment of the invention therein disclosed comprises a head 35 which is similar to the head hereinbefore described and which includes a pair of plates 36, 37, hinged together at 38, as before.

The handle means 39 comprises a handle 41 having a longitudinal aperture to receive a rod 40 which may be similar to the rod 24. Rigidly secured to and extending from the lower end of the handle 41 is a rigid tubular member 42 which terminates in oil-set loops 43, 44. The loop 43 is pivotally connected to a bracket 45 which is secured to the plate 36, and the loop 44 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 46. The other end of the link 46 is pivotally connected to a bracket 47 carried by the plate 37. As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the brackets 45, 47 are disposed on opposite sides of the hinge-like connection of the plates 36, 37.

The tubular member 42 is formed with screw threads 48 and a screw portion 49 is disposed within the member 42 and cooperates with the screw threads. The screw portion 49 is rigidly secured to the lower end of the rod 40 and is formed with a socket 50 to receive a ball formed on one end of a link 51, the other end of the link being pivoted on the pintle pin of the hinge connecting the plates 36, 37.

In operation, when the rod 40 is rotated in the proper direction, the screw portion is caused to travel upwardly in the tubular member 42 and such action causes the plates 36, 37 to swing toward each other, and compress the sponge mop therebetween, as seen in Figure 5.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described, hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. A self-wringing mop, comprising a pair of normally substantially co-planar plates and a hinge joining said plates whereby they may be moved from generally coplanar relationship to a V relationship, mopping material secured to said plates and compressed therebetween when said plates are moved to V relationship, a handle rigidly secured to one of said plates for manipulation of the mop, a screw rotatably carried by said handle, a nut threaded on said screw, means holding said nut against rotation yet permitting longitudinal travel thereof along said screw when the latter is rotated, and link means having opposite ends pivotally connected respectively to said nut and the other of said plates, whereby rotation of said screw causes pivoting action of said other plate relative to said one plate.

2. A self-wringing mop, comprising a pair of plates and a hinge joining said plates whereby they may be moved to various relative angular positions, mopping material secured to said plates and compressed therebetween when said plates are moved toward each other, a handle socket rigidly secured to one of said plates and a mop operating handle carried by said socket, a screw rotatably carried by said handle, a nut threaded on said screw, said nut and said socket having cooperating pin and slot connection for holding said nut against rotation yet permitting longitudinal travel thereof along said screw when the latter is rotated, and link means having opposite ends pivotally connected respectively to said nut and the other of said plates, whereby rotation of said screw causes pivoting action of said other plate relative to said one plate.

3. A self-wringing mop, comprising a pair of plates and a hinge joining said plates whereby they may be moved to various relative angular positions, mopping material secured to said plates and compressed therebetween when said plates are moved toward each other, a handle socket rigidly secured to one of said plates and a mop operating handle having one end secured in said socket, a rotatable operating rod passing through said handle and having a screw at said one end of said handle and a hand grip member at the opposite end of said handle, a nut threaded on said screw, means holding said nut against rotation yet permitting longitudinal travel thereof along said screw when the latter is rotated, and link means having opposite ends pivotally connected respectively to said nut and the other of said plates, whereby rotation of said screw causes pivoting action of said other plate relative to said one plate.

4. A self-wringing mop, comprising a pair of normally substantially co-planar plates and a hinge joining such said plates whereby they may be moved from generally co-planar relationship to a V relationship, mopping material secured to said plates and compressed therebetween when said plates are moved to V relationship, a handle socket rigidly secured to one of said plates and a mop operating handle having one end secured in said socket, a rotatable operating rod passing through said handle and having a screw at said one end of said handle and a 'hand grip member at the opposite end of said handle, a

nut threaded on said screw and having a laterally projecting pin, an elongated slot in said handle socket for slidably receiving said pin whereby said nut is held against rotation and yet is permitted to travel longitudinally along said screw when the latter is rotated, and link means having opposite ends pivotally connected respectively to said nut and the other of said plates, whereby rotation of said screw causes pivoting action of said other plate relative to said one plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 180,724 Mather Aug. 8, 1876 394,322 Atkinson Dec. 11, 1888 1,303,365 Myres May 13, 1919 1,344,198 Beam June 22, 1920 1,502,148 Magaton July 22, 1924 1,912,543 Sendler June 6 ,1933 2,140,430 Lynch Dec. 13, 1938 2,251,384 Thomas Aug. 5, 1941 2,280,422 Harcos Apr. 21, 1942 2,486,102 Berndsen Oct. 25, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 216,565 Germany Nov. 24, 1909 596,139 Germany Apr. 27, 1934 617,197 Germany Aug. 14,1935 413,742 Great Britain July 23, 1934 

